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Cost Comparisons Design Guides

WoodSolutions Cost Comparison Design Guides

These Guides provide an introduction and overview of a research project that developed designs for four building types with timber solutions, as well as alternative designs with conventional steel portal or concrete construction.

The project aimed to provide a source of timber costing information to building professionals by comparing the cost of timber commercial buildings to the cost of those constructed using traditional materials.

The timber solutions were designed to optimise functional performance, constructability and cost effectiveness and provide guidance for compliance under the National Construction Code (NCC).

The project investigated four building types:

• A medium rise (7-storey) office building

• A medium rise (8-storey) apartment building

• A low rise (2-storey) aged care facility

• A single-storey industrial shed.

Each solution was designed and then independently costed for a timber option as well as a more conventional concrete-framed or steel-framed solution. The cost plans were based on a reference location in suburban Sydney. The site was assumed to have no significant cost implications concerning site access, ground conditions or neighbouring properties.

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Rethinking Construction - Consider Timber

To be used in conjunction with Guides 26, 27, 28 and 29

This Guide provides an introduction and overview of a research project that developed designs for four building types with timber solutions, as well as alternative designs with conventional steel portal or concrete construction.

Rethinking Office Construction - Consider Timber

Updated December 2017Read how a 13%+ saving was achieved

The Guide is based on a research project that developed a model mid-rise office building and a corresponding timber solution, and compared it with conventional concrete construction. The timber solution was designed to optimise functional performance, constructability and cost effectiveness and provide guidance for compliance under the National Construction Code (NCC) for Class 5 office buildings. This Guide provides an explanatory understanding of decision making issues when developing timber solutions.

The timber solution was found to be $1,141,845 more cost effective, which equates to a 13.6% saving compared to the concrete solution

Rethinking Apartment Building Construction - Consider Timber

See how a 2%+ saving was achieved

The Guide is based on a research project that developed a model apartment building and a corresponding timber solution, and compared it with conventional concrete construction. The timber solution was designed to optimise functional performance, constructability and cost effectiveness and provides guidance for compliance under the National Construction Code (NCC).

The timber solution was found to be significantly cheaper:

Timber Framed: $624,854.00 or 13% cheaper than the concrete solution and $332,987 or 7.5% cheaper than Cross Laminated Timber solution

Savings also existed in the preliminary costs for the project, craneage and footings, area not recognised when comparing costs

Rethinking Aged Care Construction - Consider Timber

See how a 16% saving was achieved

This Guide aims to help those involved in the decision chain (such as cost managers, estimators, design professionals, building developers and project managers) gain a better understanding of the value that timber construction systems offer aged care accommodation projects.

The timber solution shows costs that are $112,600 (16%) lower than the steel frame solution.

Rethinking Industrial Shed Construction - Consider Timber

See how a 9%+ saving was achieved

This Guide aims to help those involved in the decision chain (such as cost managers, estimators, design professionals, building developers and project managers) gain a better understanding of the value that timber construction systems offer industrial shed projects.

The timber solution with 10.0 m portal spacing was by far the cheapest of the three options considered (9.4% cheaper than steel), followed by the timber solution with the 6.67 m portal spacing (5.0% cheaper than steel).

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